US Green Card holders doing NS

[PDBM]

Can a US Green Card holder return to Singapore to do 2 years NS and still keep his Green Card after being away for 2 years ?

I wonder if anyone has contacted any US consulate to apply for an exit permit to stay out of US for more than 6 months to do NS ?

[sierra2469alpha]

Don't know - did you try contacting them yourself?

[sundaymorningstaple]

Don't know - did you try contacting them yourself?

Sounds like a brilliant idea to me!

Happy New Year P & C! Welcome back.

[AngMohForeignTalent]

Yes, kind of. It's called Reentry Permit. Google it.
Basically, you have to apply while you are in the States, 3-4 weeks later you'll have to show up for biometrics.
The document will be valid for 2 years since the day of approval.
You will have to come back to the US before it expires.

There is also something called Returning Resident Visa. It's more difficult
to obtain, and you have to show that there were circumstances beyond your control that prevented you from coming back to the US. Doing NS may qualify as such, but I'm just speculating here.

[PDBM]

I think I should have asked "is it ok to put serving in foreign military service" in the Purpose box in the Re-Entry Permit. I did google about serving in a foreign military, only find some comments saying that a US citizen could lose his citizenship if he serves in a foreign military, could not find anything for permanent residents serving in a foreign military.

[taxico]

an american immigration attorney told me: a natural born us citizen cannot have his/her us citizenship taken away, even if he/she has renounced it. it can be applied for and regained again.

however i'm sure you won't be the first singaporean that has eventually became a naturalized US citizen. it shouldn't be a problem to do your NS while a US PR.

you worry too much. why not just put "serving national service"?

you can still visit the US while you're serving NS - you have vacation days! it's not jail...

[igwt]

Oz is a preferred place. Nothing in conflict. and you will enjoy facebook.

[PDBM]

Thank you all for your replies and thank you igwt especially for your information and scenario analysis ! I have been thinking of getting an appointment with an USCIS officer in my area to get an opinion on this. Our family got our green cards two years ago and I would like to know what's ahead if we were to let our sons (6yr and 4 yr) serves NS to retain the Singapore citizenship. The older boy's passport expires in 4 years, renewing it might cause complications from what I've been reading. This forum is really helpful.

Being more informed will help us in our house buying and schooling decisions for the kids. At this point in time, I see no benefit in giving up Singapore citizenship (other than no NS and taking out CPF) and I do not want to burn the bridge as a gateway for them to be able to live and work in Asia (and for us to retire in Singapore where the standard of living is much lower). I've read of children of immigrants wanting to go back to Singapore to work and I know someone in US who left for HK. My US colleague is envious of my "dual status" as he thinks US is doomed the massive unemployment, rising inflating and out of control deficits and debt. Everyone's situation and aspirations are different. Who knows I may change my mind later but I do not want to be an ignorant parent about NS liabilities.

Yes, it will be a logistical challenge. I have done my share of 2.5 year NS in the 1990s and reservist callups. The ability to take personal leave during NS depends very much on the camp officers at least during my time and perhaps times have changed, and perhaps SAF will allow more flexiblity in the next 10 years and NS would be shortened to less than 2 years.

It would be nice to hear from anyone who is a US green card holder serving NS, most I guess would have chosen to defer NS, naturalize to become US citizens and plan to renounce Sg citizenship at 21.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Unless you child is obese or seriously overweight, NS is currently only 21 months and not 2 years. So, it would be good to keep the kids fit.

[taxico]

Unless you child is obese or seriously overweight, NS is currently only 21 months and not 2 years. So, it would be good to keep the kids fit.

i think the 3 month deduction applies only for a recent gold/silver award in the NAPFA test... which is applicable to pre-enlistees studying in a singapore school.

(i think!)

[ScatterBrain]

Actually, there is no need to apply for the second RP, since one can
reenter US on the Green Card alone. Return to US upon expiration of
your RP, leave the country to finish up NS and return back to US. You'll
have 6 months to come back... enough time to finish up NS, no?

[dariusgrey]

Hi PDBM,

I am a US green card holder and received it when I was 13-14 but still have a Singaporean passport.

I came back to do NS after highschool in the US in order to retain my citizenship as well as not skip out on the bond we had posted since I was a male citizen living abroad.

I came back to the US using a "re-entry permit" as AngMohForeignTalent said. It kind of looks like a mini-passport issued by the US govt that allows me to come and go from the US despite not living here for extended periods of time (I got to go back from NS every 6-9 months or so).

After NS I didn't need the re-entry permit anymore, still have my Singaporean passport and still have my greencard.

Currently I'm an undergrad at NYU so this was all 4-5 years ago.

[PDBM]

I have not visited this forum for quite a while. Nice to hear from someone who had gone thru NS as a green card holder. Thank you very much for sharing your experience... and somehow I felt that I have to thank you for completing your NS too !

[firstdown80]

Hi PDBM,

I am a US green card holder and received it when I was 13-14 but still have a Singaporean passport.

I came back to do NS after highschool in the US in order to retain my citizenship as well as not skip out on the bond we had posted since I was a male citizen living abroad.

I came back to the US using a "re-entry permit" as AngMohForeignTalent said. It kind of looks like a mini-passport issued by the US govt that allows me to come and go from the US despite not living here for extended periods of time (I got to go back from NS every 6-9 months or so).

After NS I didn't need the re-entry permit anymore, still have my Singaporean passport and still have my greencard.

Currently I'm an undergrad at NYU so this was all 4-5 years ago.

I've been searching the net for an answer, and really thank full for this information. My son will be returning to SG for his medical and NAPFA test this June. We are in the process of getting our green cards and it is likely that we'll get approval in 6-8months time. Once he is done with his medical & test, we will return to the US and wait for his enlistment call up because he will only turn 18 early Dec 2012.

Our lawyers are advising that my son apply for the Advanced Parole document (takes 3 months to get approval), is this the same as the "re-entry" permit?